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Enclosed is a copy of a communication dated June 21, 2006 that was received
in my office from AFL-CIO President Sweeney regarding the “Kentucky River” Decisions.
Please read the enclosed very carefully and let this letter serve as an urgent
notice to each and every local union of this International, that this matter
is an inherent danger to this and every labor organization in the nation. The
severity of these decisions could potentially impact and cost us tens of thousands
of OUR jobs – we could lose our heads of department positions altogether.
Whether you are Republican, Democrat or Independent, I cannot emphasize enough
how critical this issue is to all of us, regardless of political party affiliation.
Every local union must make every possible effort to defeat the three potentially
destructive decisions that are due to be made before the end of this summer.
As President Sweeney states, this is a critical fight and we must be engaged
in this process. I must urge you in the strongest of terms to contact your
State and Central Labor bodies to obtain any information you can to assist
in the efforts to preserve our existing contractual protections.
Fraternally,
Thomas C. Short
International President
MEMORANDUM
To: Executive Council Members
From: John J. Sweeney
Re: “Kentucky River” Decisions
Date: June 21, 2006
The Bush-appointed Labor Board is poised to issue three potentially destructive
decisions before the end of this summer. At stake are collective bargaining
rights for thousands of workers. We need to mobilize now and mount an aggressive
public awareness and education campaign.
The three pending cases will redefine the term “supervisor.” Since
workers classified as “supervisors” do not have federal labor law
protection, a broad definition will strip thousands of workers of their existing
contract protections and deny even more workers their right to organize.
At issue is whether more experienced or skilled workers who give direction
or assign work to co-workers are supervisors within the meaning of the National
Labor Relations Act, such that they are excluded from the protections of federal
law. These decisions have the potential to affect a wide range of workers,
including nurses in health care, skilled journeymen in building and construction,
and similarly-situated workers in broadcast, energy, shipping and other industries.
We have been aggressively involved in the litigation of these cases. Now it
is time for a public awareness and mobilization campaign. We need to mobilize
our members, allies, elected officials and community leaders to make the Bush
Board understand how important this issue is and what a huge impact its decisions
could have on workers’ rights. The Labor Board needs to know that this
is an issue that really matters.
The May 24 HPAE/AFT rally in New Jersey that garnered media attention launched
our public campaign and made clear the potential disruption that can result
from these decisions. Culminating the week of July 10, workers will lead
actions in 15-20 cities from coast to coast. These nationwide actions will
range from small informational pickets to full-blown actions at NLRB offices.
Union members can also become engaged in this fight by contacting their Members
of Congress and asking them to appeal to the NLRB for oral arguments in the
pending cases. The Bush Board hasn’t heard oral arguments since Bush
took office and we have a right to be heard on decisions that will affect us
so deeply.
Please inform your locals about our Week of Action and urge them to work
with our Central Labor Councils so that we can develop the largest possible
actions at health care facilities, regional Labor Board offices and other appropriate
locations.
Please contact Organizing Director Stewart Acuff for more information.
We cannot afford not to act. We cannot watch as the Bush Board takes the
promise of organizing and the benefits of collective bargaining from ever-growing
numbers of American workers.
I urge you to join us in this critical fight.
Memorandum
TO: All IATSE Local Unions in the United States
FROM: Thomas C. Short, International President
DATE: June 28, 2006
RE: “Kentucky River” Decisions
Further to my letter dated June 22, 2006, I provide you the enclosed extracts
from the website of the AFL-CIO’s “Voice @ Work” Network.
This issue is a most crucial one and I am requesting that you act on this
as soon as possible. In addition to the telephone number provided in the article
below you may use a form provided by the Voice @ Work Network’s website
to assist in getting our message to Congress.
Please visit the site at: www.unionvoice.org/campaign/kyrivercases
Your participation and efforts in this regard are critical.
Extracts
from Voice @ Work Update – June 28, 2006 1) “Workers Anticipate Devastation of “Kentucky River” Decisions
from Labor Board
This summer, a devastating set of three decisions are expected out of the Bush
Labor Board that could strip hundreds of thousands of workers of their rights
under federal labor law.
The decisions are collectively called the “Kentucky River” decisions.
At issue is a revised definition of “supervisor” that could potentially
affect workers in a wide range of industries, including heath care, building
and construction, energy, broadcast and port shipping.
Unlike other employees, supervisors do not have protected rights under the
National Labor Relations Act to form and join unions, and employer often try
to classify workers as supervisors in order to deny them the right to union
representation and collective bargaining.
In anticipation of what could be the biggest assault on workers’ rights
in decades, we’re putting together a two-pronged plan to address the
decision even before they are released.
We’re asking every union member nationwide to contact his or her member
of Congress to put pressure on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to
hear oral arguments on these cases. Unwilling to hear the voices of working
people, the Bush Labor Board has not granted oral arguments since 2001. Call
the Congressional Switchboard at 202-244-3121 to get in touch with your member
of Congress.
Workers in 18 cities will take to the streets the week of July 10 in a national
week of action dedicated to bringing the anti-worker trends of the Labor Board
to light. Contact your local Central Labor Council to find out about actions
near you. Then bring your family and friends out to support every American’s
right to organize.”
2) “American Rights at Work: Recent Labor Board Decisions Suggest
Dangerous Trend
According to American Rights at Work, millions of workers who want to form
unions or maintain their current union representation will see their rights
dramatically curtailed if the NLRB maintains its recent ruling trend.
Some workers who have created collective bargaining units at their workplaces
will see their eligibility status switched, according to the group’s “Editorial
Memo: Workers Anticipate Reversal of Rights from Bush-Appointed Labor Board.” Others
who are currently coming together in unions will see options for organizing
eliminated, the memo says. To read the full text of the “Editorial Memo,” go
to www.americanrightsatwork.org/press/press.cfm?pressReleaseID.
These NLRB rulings come at a time of significant worker organizing activity,
with thousands of vigorous worker campaigns across the country and a national
campaign to restore workers’ freedom to form unions.
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